Ohio House passes legislation to enact whistleblower protections
Lead Summary
By
-
State Representative Cliff Rosenberger (R-Clarksville) has announced that the Ohio House of Representatives passed House Bill 66, which will create a reporting mechanism for Ohio citizens and public employees to report the fraud, waste and abuse of tax dollars.
Specifically, House Bill 66 will require the Ohio Auditor of State to maintain the Ohio Fraud Reporting System for anonymously reporting fraud and compel government entities to provide information about the fraud reporting system to their employees. Under the Ohio Whistleblower Protection Act, it also protects those employees who report the misuse of public resources to the toll-free hotline, Auditor of State’s web site or through the U.S. Postal Service.
“It is important to have an avenue for citizens to report misuse and abuse of public resources,” Representative Rosenberger said. “The opportunity to do so with complete anonymity will further encourage those who have seen misuse to utilize the fraud reporting system without fear of retribution.”
According to the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, nearly half of all fraud that is detected in government agencies is reported through tips. The median amount of loss and waste that is experienced by an entity is reduced by 50 percent for organizations with an anonymous fraud hotline.
House Bill 66 passed unanimously and will now move to the Ohio Senate for further consideration.[[In-content Ad]]
Specifically, House Bill 66 will require the Ohio Auditor of State to maintain the Ohio Fraud Reporting System for anonymously reporting fraud and compel government entities to provide information about the fraud reporting system to their employees. Under the Ohio Whistleblower Protection Act, it also protects those employees who report the misuse of public resources to the toll-free hotline, Auditor of State’s web site or through the U.S. Postal Service.
“It is important to have an avenue for citizens to report misuse and abuse of public resources,” Representative Rosenberger said. “The opportunity to do so with complete anonymity will further encourage those who have seen misuse to utilize the fraud reporting system without fear of retribution.”
According to the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, nearly half of all fraud that is detected in government agencies is reported through tips. The median amount of loss and waste that is experienced by an entity is reduced by 50 percent for organizations with an anonymous fraud hotline.
House Bill 66 passed unanimously and will now move to the Ohio Senate for further consideration.[[In-content Ad]]